Tastebuds cares about your privacy!

We endeavor to capture as little data about you as possible, so that you can experience a trusted platform to share and learn about new restaurant experiences.

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 14, 2024

I. Scope of this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes the types of personal information We Are Tastebuds, Inc. (“We Are Tastebuds,” “us,” “we” or “our”) collects through the Tastebuds mobile application, and various related services (the “Application”), as well as our website https://wearetastebuds.com (“Website”), and how we collect, use, and share that information (“Privacy Policy”). This Privacy Policy does not govern our collection of personal information through any other website or other means, other than through the Application or Website.

Our processing of personal data, such as your name, address, or e-mail address, shall be undertaken consistent with the requirements of applicable privacy laws, including, but not limited to, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to provide to users and potential users of our Application and Website information about the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process and to advise data subjects of their rights. Whether we serve as the data controller or processor, We Are Tastebuds has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the protection of personal data processed through the Application and Website. However, Internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security gaps, so please understand that absolute protection is not assured.

By using the Application, and Website you accept and expressly agree to our practices surrounding the collection, use, and sharing of personal information provided by you in the manner described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, you cannot, and we do not authorize you to, access, browse, or use the Application or the Website.

II. Personal Information We Collect

A. Information You Give Us

Except for physical location information, tracking technologies and registration requirements (as described below), you do not have to give us any personal information to browse this Application or Website. However, you may be asked to provide personal information to submit or request information from us, or to use the services offered through this Application or Website.

Once you provide us with your personal information, you are no longer anonymous to us. However, we will only maintain information necessary for log in and We are Tastebuds account purposes.

Registration Information: When you sign up for the Application, you are required to provide certain private information such as your name, username, password, and email address. In addition, you may be asked to provide information, such as location to enhance the Application experience.

Additional Information: Additional information that you provide to us, including through feedback, pictures you upload, comments, ratings, reviews, messages, emails, event registrations, answers to surveys or questionnaires that you may submit is available to members upon consent.

Payment Information: If you choose to purchase any We Are Tastebuds products or services, you will be required to provide information such as your name, username, email address, company name, address, phone number, and credit card information.

B. Location Information

In order to access and use certain areas or features of the Application, you consent to our collection and use of your physical location information if you use the Application on a location-enabled device (including GPS, cellular, and Wi-Fi networks) and you further consent to our receipt of location data passed to us from location-enabled devices or that you have enabled from third-party services.

C. Automated Information Collection

In order to access and use certain areas or features of the Application, you consent to our collection and use of certain information about your use of the Application through the use of tracking technologies or by other passive means. Your consent to our access and use of this “passively collected” information includes, but is not limited to, the distribution channels that allowed you to navigate to the Application, the length of time spent on the Application, the screens you looked at on the Application, the frequency of your visits to the Application, and other relevant statistics.

In order to access and use certain areas or features of the Website, you consent to our collection and use of certain information about your use of the Website through the use of tracking technologies or by other passive means. Your consent to our access and use of this “passively collected” information includes, but is not limited to, the domain name of the website that allowed you to navigate to the Website, search engines used, the internet protocol (IP) address used, the length of time spent on the Website, the pages you looked at on the Website, other webpages you visited before and after visiting the Website, the type of internet browser you have, the frequency of your visits to the Website, and other relevant statistics.

D. Information for the Website

When you access the Website, you also consent to our servers automatically recording information that your browser sends whenever you visit a website. These server logs may include information such as your web request, IP address, browser type, browser language, the date and time of your request, your computer operating system, mobile device and mobile operating system, name of your internet service provider or your mobile carrier, and one or more cookies (small text files containing a string of characters) that may uniquely identify your browser. Our servers also automatically record what you click on while visiting the Website.

E. Aggregate Information

We may compile certain personal information and other information collected through the Application on an aggregate basis. This information may include, without limitation, the number of people who have visited the Application and other user demographics. Such aggregate information does not identify you individually.

III. How We Use Personal Information

We Are Tastebuds complies with its obligations under applicable privacy laws by: keeping personal data up to date where needed based on the purposes for which the personal data is being processed; by not collecting or retaining excessive amounts of data; by ensuring that appropriate technical measures are in place that are designed to protect personal data from loss, alteration, misuse, unauthorized access and disclosure as it is transmitted, stored, or otherwise processed, and by using appropriate measures to securely destroy personal data when it is no longer needed by We Are Tastebuds.

Personal information collected through the Application and Website may be used by us and our affiliates for purposes of:

  • To install the Application and register you as a new user, we may use Identity, Contact, Device, and/or Profile Data and the lawful basis for processing is your consent To Register, we use username, first name, last name, password, email and location;
  • To deliver relevant content to you such as suggesting recommendations you may be interested in or users you might want to follow based on your activity throughout the Application. We may use Profile and/or Usage Data and the lawful basis for processing is performance of a contract with you;
  • To manage our relationship with you including notifying you of changes to the Application or any Services. We may use Identity, Contact, Profile and/or Marketing and Communications Data. The lawful basis for processing is your consent, performance of a contract with you, necessary for our legitimate interest (to keep records updated and to analyze how customers use our products/ Services), or necessary to comply with legal obligations (to inform you of any changes to our terms and conditions);
  • To administer and protect our business and this Application including troubleshooting, data analysis and system testing. We may use Identity, Contact and/or Device Data and the legal basis for processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (for running our business, provision of administration from information contained on the Application and Website;
  • Responding to your questions and feedback;
  • Providing the services you select through this Application;
  • Contacting you by email, with information about this Application, our products, or our services;
  • For such purposes as you may authorize at the time you submit the information;
  • Auditing, research, and analysis to maintain, protect, and improve this Application and our services;
  • Ensuring the technical functions of our network;
  • Improving and customizing the content and layout of the Application;
  • Developing new products and services.

IV. Personal Information We Share

We do not sell, rent, trade, or otherwise share personal information collected through the Application or Website, except as described below:

A. In Connection with our Offerings

The Application involves the sharing of certain personal information collected through the Application with (i) other users of the Application, and (ii) as you otherwise provide your consent. Information which you upload, post, submit or otherwise transmit in connection with the Application to restaurant reviews, images or other public areas of the Application will be made public to users of the Application, including certain metadata related to such activities (such as timestamps). You are solely responsible for any such information you choose to post on or through the Application. All information that is posted to restaurant reviews, images, or other public area of the Application may be shared by us with (i) other users of the Application, and (ii) as you otherwise provide your consent. Please be aware that anything you share publically may be further shared by other users of the Application (for example, by emailing a screenshot of your post to non-users). We are not responsible for any such sharing of information you have shared publicly on the Application.

B. Service Providers

We work with third parties that provide services on our behalf. Such services may include mobile application and website hosting, marketing, and mobile application and website usage analytics. We may share personal information and non-personal information with these third parties for the purpose of enabling them to provide these services.

C. Business Customers

We provide businesses with services and data reports. Such services and data reports may include item, style and venue trends and analyses, item performance benchmarks and quality assurance information. We will not share personally identifiable information with these Business Customers.

D. Required by Law

We may disclose personal information, or any information collected through this Application if we are required to do so by law or pursuant to legal process, in response to a request from government officials or law enforcement authorities, or as necessary or appropriate in connection with an investigation of illegal activity.

E. Certain Transactions

In the future we may disclose or transfer personal information, or any information collected through this Site to third parties who acquire all or a portion of our business, whether such acquisition is by way of merger, consolidation, or purchase of all or a portion of our assets, or in connection with any bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding brought by or against us.

V. Aggregate Information

We may compile de-identified personal information and other information collected through the Applications on an aggregate basis. This information may include, without limitation, the number of users who have registered for the Application and demographic information about users and usage of the Application. Such aggregate information does not identify you individually. We may use aggregate information and share aggregate information with third parties for any of the purposes specified in this Privacy Policy, and for any other lawful purpose.

VI. Your Choices

A. Information You Provide

You can always choose whether or not to provide information on the Application or Website. However, if you choose not to disclose certain information, you will not be able to register or maintain your We Are Tastebuds account as a user of the Application, which may limit your access to certain portions of the Application. If you choose not to provide information on the Website, you will not be able to send us your comments or questions.

B. Privacy Settings

By default, certain types of information you choose to submit will be made public to users of the Application. This includes your username, location pictures, profile image, city, country and any reviews, comments, and images you upload to the restaurant profiles screens. Your lists and activity information described in Section II will remain private except for specific users with whom you have connected or until you make them public with all the users of the Application.

C. Communications From Us

If at any time you decide that you no longer wish to receive notices from us regarding the Application or Website, you may indicate this preference by contacting us at info@wearetastebuds.com.

D. Your Rights and Your Personal Data

Unless subject to an exemption under the GDPR, if your personal data is subject to the GDPR, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

  • The right to request a copy of your personal data which We Are Tastebuds holds about you;
  • The right to request that We Are Tastebuds correct any personal data if it is found to be inaccurate or out of date;
  • The right to request your personal data be erased where it is no longer necessary for We Are Tastebuds to retain such data;
  • The right to withdraw your consent at any time to the processing of personal data to which you provided consent for processing;
  • The right to request that We Are Tastebuds provide you with a copy of your personal data and where possible, to transmit that data directly to another data controller (known as the right to data portability);
  • The right, where there is a dispute in relation to the accuracy or processing of your personal data, to request a restriction be placed on further processing;
  • The right to object to the processing of personal data (where applicable); and
  • The right to lodge a complaint with a data supervisory authority.

E. Transfer of Data Abroad

If your personal data is subject to the GDPR, We Are Tastebuds will transfer personal data from the European Economic Area (EEA) to a location outside the EEA only when there has been a documented adequacy determination, or where We Are Tastebuds has confirmed adequate privacy protections. If We Are Tastebuds transfers personal data to a third party acting as an agent of We Are Tastebuds, we will also obligate the third party to have adequate privacy protections in place.

We Are Tastebuds may transfer personal data to and on behalf of clients and third parties with whom We Are Tastebuds has an existing service agreement or as part of our legal obligations, each of which shall be subject to We Are Tastebuds policies, and only to the extent necessary for purposes of legitimate interests pursued by the data controller (or by a third party).

F. Automated Decision Making

Under the GDPR, data subjects have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning him or her, or similarly significantly affects him or her, as long as the decision (1) is not is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) is not authorized by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and which also lays down suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is not based on the data subject’s explicit consent. We do not engage in automated decision making.

G. Further Processing

If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, not covered by this Privacy Policy, then we will provide you with a new notice explaining this new use prior to commencing the processing and setting out the relevant purposes and processing conditions. Where and whenever necessary, we will seek your prior consent to the new processing.

VII. Information Storage and Security

We employ reasonable security precautions to help protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of personal information provided on or through the Application and Website. However, no method of transmitting or storing data is completely secure. As a result, although we strive to protect personal information about you, we cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us through or in connection with the Application or via the Website. If you have reason to believe that personal information is no longer secure, please notify us immediately by contacting us in accordance with the last section below.

VIII. Special Notes about Children and California Privacy Rights

Children are not eligible to use the Application or Website, and we ask that minors (children under the age of 16) not submit any personal information to us. If you are a minor, you can use the Application and Website only in conjunction with your parents or guardians.

IX. External Links

The Application and Website may contain links to various websites that we do not control. When you click on one of these links, you will no longer be transacting business through the Application or Website. Third party websites maintain their own privacy policies, and we do not exercise any control over any of the third party websites that may be linked to the Application and Website. If you visit a website that is linked to the Application or Website, you should consult that website’s privacy policy before providing any personal information. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other websites, and we are not liable for their misuse of personal information about you.

X. Special Admonitions for International Use

The Application and Website are hosted in the United States. All matters relating to the Application and Website are governed exclusively by the laws of Delaware in the United States of America and not the jurisdiction in which you are located. If you are located outside of the United States of America and you contact us, please be advised that any information you provide to us will be transferred to the United States of America and that by submitting information, you explicitly authorize such transfer.

XI. Updates to this Privacy Policy

We may change or update the Application and Website or any of our policies and procedures without prior notice, except that if any changes are likely to have an adverse impact on your rights under data protection law, we will use reasonable efforts to notify you of the changes in advance in writing, and, where required, obtain your consent to our activities. We will post a notice on this Application and or Website to advise you of any significant changes to this Privacy Policy and indicate via the “Last Updated” legend in this Privacy Policy when it was most recently updated. Except to the extent that your express consent to any change or update is required under data protection law, your continued use of the Application and Website signifies your continued assent to the terms of this Privacy Policy, as updated or amended at that time.

XII. Questions Regarding this Privacy Policy

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Privacy Policy, please send us an email at info@wearetastebuds.com

If your personal data is subject to the GDPR, the data controller for the purposes of GDPR or other data protection laws applicable in Member states of the European Union and other provisions related to data protection is:

We Are Tastebuds, Inc.

Data Manager

Email: info@wearetastebuds.com

Any data subject may, at any time, contact us directly with any questions and suggestions concerning data protection. We encourage interested persons to raise any concerns about the collection, use, or processing of personal data using the contact information provided above. In the event of a privacy related issue or complaint, we will investigate and attempt to promptly resolve any complaints and disputes regarding use and disclosure of personal data.

For complaints that cannot be resolved, if your personal data is subject to the GDPR, we commit to cooperating with the panel established by the EU data protection authorities (DPAs) or the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC), as applicable, and comply with the advice given by the DPAs or FDPIC about personal data transferred from the EU or Switzerland.

In order to facilitate the handling of complaints, individuals in the EU can choose to contact their national DPA or use the form located at this link: http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/document.cfm?doc_id=42962

Individuals in Switzerland can contact the Swiss FDPIC by visiting: https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/edoeb/de/home.html

Privacy Settings and Permissions

A. Opt In

By creating an account, you allow We Are Tastebuds to collect, process and report on your personal data as outlined above through the Application.

B. Opt Out

If you choose to delete your We Are Tastebuds account, you will be deleting all data, including personal data associated with the account, and it will be removed from the We Are Tastebuds database.

You can delete your account within the application from the My Profile screen.

© We Are Tastebuds, Inc 2024